Allies urge Ukraine to curb Russian energy strikes
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- Zelensky said in a WhatsApp voice message that some allies asked Ukraine to reduce attacks on Russia's energy sector, but he would only stop if Russia ceased striking Ukraine's energy.
- Ukraine has launched long‑range strikes on Russian energy infrastructure, including the Ust‑Luga oil terminal, which Zelensky claimed knocked out about 60 % of the port’s capacity.
- The United States recently eased some sanctions on Russian oil as global fuel prices surged after Iran’s war and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz.
- China and India together bought roughly 85 % of Russian crude exports in February, according to the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air.
- The European Union remains the largest purchaser of Russian gas (34 %) and LNG (49 %).
- Ukraine’s energy system has been severely damaged by Russian attacks, leaving more than a million people without electricity and heating during winter.
Why it matters: Allies' push to curb Ukrainian strikes threatens Kyiv’s leverage over Russia’s war‑financing, while Russia’s energy attacks continue to cripple Ukrainian civilians, underscoring a trade‑off between diplomatic pressure and humanitarian costs, and highlighting how global fuel markets and sanctions easing shape the conflict’s economics.
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